News release

Compaq Launches Industry Leading Cluster Solutions at Oracle OpenWorld

Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ), a global enterprise and technology solutions company, today announced two new solutions that combine the scalability of Oracle9i Real Application Clusters and the power of Compaq servers and software. Launched at Oracle OpenWorld are two new highly scalable solutions with Oracle9i Real Application Clusters: The new Compaq Database Utility solution for Oracle9i Real Application Clusters on AlphaServer systems, and the Oracle9i Real Application Clusters Certified Configuration on industry-standard Compaq ProLiant servers running on Microsoft Windows 2000.

Database Utility Solution

With its Database Utility, Compaq is the first vendor to enable dynamic expansion of Oracle9i Real Application Clusters Databases. Dynamic expansion means database performance and size, including disk space and number of systems, can be increased without taking the database offline, ensuring business continuity. With a set of simple commands, Tru64 UNIX customers can quickly add AlphaServer systems and storage subsystems to the Oracle9i Real Application Clusters system while continuing to run their applications.

"Oracle's leadership in database technology in combination with Compaq's clustering leadership delivers breakthrough database environments that are always on, while eliminating complexity, enabling customers to cost effectively and confidently deploy clustered databases," said Howard Elias, senior vice president and general manager of Compaq's Business Critical Solutions Group. "This partnership with Oracle again demonstrates how Compaq is helping customers build the most advanced real-time enterprise."

The new functionality in the Database Utility simplifies and reduces the time required to deploy a database solution, a key requirement for customers looking to reduce complexity and deployment costs. This offering is an extension of the Certified Configuration family and includes Oracle9i Real Application Clusters software pre-installed, pre-tuned, stress tested and ready to load data. The Database Utility base configuration includes Tru64 UNIX, TruCluster Server software, two AlphaServer ES45 systems with 4GB of memory and .7TB of storage. Expansion enables up to eight nodes, each with 2-4 CPUs and 4-32GB of memory. Storage can grow from .7TB to 4.6TB. The Compaq Database Utility configuration eliminates single points of failure, ensuring ongoing data and application availability in the unlikely event of a component failure. In addition, enhancements in managing fail-over and database restart reduce the risk of human error and increase the productivity of the database administrators. Compaq and its reseller partners continue their commitment to deliver Certified Configurations within nine days from receipt of an order.

"Innovations like the Compaq Database Utility mark another significant milestone in Oracle's relationship with Compaq," said Michael Rocha, senior vice president, Platform Technologies Division, Oracle Corporation. "With this technology, customers can finally manage their clustered environments easier than ever before. The Compaq Database Utility offers tremendous productivity gains to customers, including dynamic scaling, as well as management of the cluster as if it were a single system."

The new Database Utility for Oracle9i Real Application Clusters, which is available only from Compaq, is the initial product in the three-year Compaq/Oracle engineering effort announced earlier this year. Oracle has embedded key technologies from Compaq TruCluster Server software in Oracle9i Real Application Clusters. Competing vendors will not have this database utility expansion capability until mid-2002.

Oracle Certified Configuration on ProLiant Servers

Compaq is announcing the industry's first Oracle9i Real Application Clusters Certified Configuration for Windows 2000 that provides pre-tested, pre-integrated and pre-installed clusters on multiple ProLiant server configurations.

Customers have been demanding a highly available, highly scalable database platform with the lower total cost of ownership benefits of an industry-standard server environment. With the scale out, "pay as you grow" approach using ProLiant servers, Compaq is well positioned to help customers transition to a more adaptive database environment without sacrificing availability or performance for their high-end enterprise computing needs.

With these new Certified Configurations, Compaq further solidifies the ProLiant server as one of the most popular standards for the deployment of Oracle Clusters on industry-standard servers. For more information visit http://www.compaq.com/proliant9i.

Global Services and Storage Solutions

Compaq Global Services and Oracle Support Services, together, provide 24x7 joint support to ensure seamless operation of the clustered systems, including a North America Joint Escalation Services Center, which is staffed by both companies. Compaq and Oracle are offering proactive, remote monitoring and management services as part of the Oracle9i Real Application Clusters Certified Configuration for Compaq Tru64 UNIX. Remote Services Offerings will include Oracle's iDBA services (http://www.oracle.com/support/index.html?remote.html) and Compaq's High Availability Services (http://www.compaq.com/services/available/index.html). These service offerings enhance the extensive joint support capabilities that include the recently announced Cooperative Support Agreement and the Joint Escalation Center.

Compaq is the leading storage and SAN storage provider in the industry. Compaq StorageWorks and SANworks solutions offer vast scalability and centralized management that greatly simplifies server and storage consolidation and extends storage functionality. Compaq has been approved by Oracle as a qualified member of the Oracle Storage Compatibility Program (OSCP) in the area of snapshot technology, utilizing Compaq SANworks Enterprise Volume Manager. This program offers Oracle customers greater confidence that Compaq StorageWorks and SANworks are compatible with Oracle's database products.

Availability

The Database Utility solution will be available in January 2002. Oracle9i Real Application Clusters Certified Configuration is immediately available on Compaq AlphaServer systems and ProLiant servers shipping with Compaq's leading StorageWorks line of storage products. For more information on ProLiant Clusters visit http://www.compaq.com/proliant9i. For more information on AlphaServer Clusters visit http://www.compaq.com/hps.

Company Background

Founded in 1982, Compaq Computer Corporation ("Compaq") is a leading global provider of enterprise technology and solutions. Compaq designs, develops, manufactures and markets hardware, software, solutions and services, including industry-leading enterprise storage and computing solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical solutions, communication products, and desktop and portable personal computers that are sold in more than 200 countries. Information on Compaq and its products and services is available at http://www.compaq.com.